Contents

Get in

Most visitors arrive in Scotts Valley by car. Two exits off of the winding California State Route 17 take visitors into the city.

There is no train service in Scotts Valley, but a collaboration between Amtrak, Santa Clara County's Valley Transit Authority, and Santa Cruz County's Metro Transit District has resulted in frequent, daily, hour-long bus trips between downtown San Jose and Scotts Valley. The "Highway 17 Express" costs $4 each way; an $8 day pass entitles the bearer to free use of both the VTA and Metro mass transit systems for the day (2008 rates). In San Jose, this bus stops at the Diridon train station (with connections to CalTrain), VTA light rail stops in downtown San Jose, and at San Jose State University. In Santa Cruz County, it stops at the Cavallero Transit Center in Scotts Valley (on King's Village Road, just off Mount Hermon Road). Some routes continue into downtown Santa Cruz. This bus route is popular with students, non-drivers, and regular commuters to the downtown San Jose area.

The Greyhound bus service also provides service to the area from San Francisco.

The nearest airports with scheduled passenger service are in San Jose and Monterey. The nearest municipal airport for private planes is in Watsonville.

Get around

Most visitors to Scotts Valley drive to nearby attractions. The main part of the small city is adjacent to California State Route 17. The city itself has two main roads: Scotts Valley Drive and Mount Hermon Road. Scotts Valley Drive parallels Highway 17; Mount Hermon Road proceeds northwest to Felton.

The primary local bus route in the City, which runs approximately every half hour during the day, goes south to downtown Santa Cruz and north on Mount Hermon Road to the communities in the San Lorenzo Valley. Rates are $1.50 per adult per trip; there are no transfers. The main Santa Cruz bus station is in the downtown shopping district and about a fifteen-minute-long walk away from Main Beach in Santa Cruz. The bus system is usually considered more useful for getting in and out of Scotts Valley than for getting from one place to another in the city itself.

Visitors can also take the Highway 17 Express and Greyhound buses to San Jose and the San Francisco Bay area.

The main city roads are in relatively good condition for bicycling.

See

Play golf!
A round at the 9-hole * Valley Gardens Golf Course, [1] or the nearby

Pasatiempo Golf Course,[2] rated one of the top 100 golf courses in America.

Take the kids fishing at * Camp Evers Fishing Park, 831.438.3251
Camp Evers Fishing Parkis an ideal fishing hole for younger people. The Park is stocked with native steelhead and offers free seasonal fishing. The fishing hole is open May through September for those of the age 15 years and younger. The Park offers picnic areas and barbecue facilities.
The Park is open from dawn to just past dusk. The park is located 1/2 mile from Mt. Hermon Road on Glen Canyon Road.

Expand your “tricktionary”, jump on your deck, or just enjoy the sun
at the * Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park. [4] The 22,000 sq. foot concrete playground was designed by Wormhoudt, Inc., a local landscape architectural firm that first became involved in skatepark design and planning in 1973 with one of the nations oldest public skate parks, Santa Cruz's own "Derby Park".
From HWY 17 - Exit Mt. Herman Road - Make a right on Kings Village Road -
Left on Blue Bonnet Lane and the parks on your left

Do

Most visitors use Scotts Valley as a convenient base for exploring the nearby areas: the amusement park in Santa Cruz, the redwood forests in Felton, the kayak-friendly sloughs in Watsonville, and the beaches all along the coast.

Within the City of Scotts Valley, there are four wineries. Roudon-Smith Winery and Glenwood Oaks Winery (same location) are open for tastings on Saturday afternoons and occasionally for events sponsored by the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Association.

The Chamber of Commerce sponsors a large Art and Wine Festival at the Sky Park field each August. On Independence Day, a regional fireworks display is hosted at Skypark.

Several city parks, including the large Skypark complex, are available for day use at no cost and may be popular with families. Skypark offers an enclosed dog run, a 20,000 square foot (1850 square meters) concrete skateboard park, two playgrounds, soccer fields, bocce ball courts, and picnic areas. An easy trail beyond the tennis courts loops around an adjacent housing area and provides beautiful views of the surrounding valleys. Siltanen Park, at the north end of Scotts Valley, offers playground space and a shallow swimming pool with a lifeguard.

Buy

Shoppers will appreciate the many stores, restaurants, and even day spas in the neighborhoods of Mt. Hermon and Kings Valley Road. [5]

Heavenly Cafe, 1210 Mount Hermon Rd Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (Out of the center of town a short distance on Mount Herman Road toward Felton), ☎831-335-7311, [6]. This modestly priced diner has delicious, homestyle burgers, omelettes, and other treats. Leave room, if you can, for a slice of their avocado pie. Ask for outdoor seating on their patio if weather permits.